After 6 Months

Luca faced a giant black bear standing 5 meters tall. He looked at the bear and smiled, "Six months ago, your appearance might have frightened me, but now that won't work on me."

The bear seemed to sense Luca's contempt. It roared and charged at him with surprising speed for its massive size.

As it approached, Luca used his mental powers to shape the air into ropes, binding all four of the bear's limbs and rendering it immobile. Seizing the opportunity, Luca rushed forward at full speed and delivered an uppercut to its chin, hoping to knock it unconscious.

The plan failed. The punch only angered the bear further. It broke free from the air ropes, which dissipated, and charged again with its claws bared. Seeing it break free didn't surprise Luca—after all, they were just made of air.

He floated upward, hovering above the bear's reach. Using his power, he uprooted nearby trees and sent them flying at the beast. The bear barely managed to dodge the trees. It grabbed a large rock and hurled it at Luca.

"Just what I'd expect from the strongest beast on this island. You won't go down easily." As the rock neared him, it stopped midair and shot back toward the bear.

The bear was struggling—trees assaulted it violently while serpentine tendrils of air coiled around its limbs, barely holding it in place. When the rock came speeding toward its neck, it had no time to react.

The impact knocked it unconscious. "Not bad—defeating this bear without using the nails I usually fight with," Luca thought as he landed beside the fallen beast

. A sharp piece of rock jutted from the ground beneath its neck, finishing it off. "I can fly and move freely through the air now. My current strength should be enough to keep me reasonably safe at sea. It's time to go after that fruit I want," he mused while devouring the bear's meat.

Despite his small frame compared to the massive bear, he could eat it all—likely due to his enhanced digestive abilities. --- After eating his fill, Luca lost interest in training and headed to the harbor to look for a suitable ship.

The vessel he wanted needed to be spacious enough not to feel cramped—at least a bedroom, living area, kitchen, bathroom, and a small deck space to enjoy fresh air when desired.

But it couldn't be too large, as he planned to travel by flying most of the time. He walked along the docks, scanning the ships, but none fit his needs—they were either too big or just small fishing boats.

"Finding what you need isn't easy," he muttered, continuing his search.

After a while, he spotted a green ship of moderate size approaching the harbor. It docked, and Luca observed it closely—a 16-meter-long vessel with two small sails and a sizable cabin.

A well-dressed man who appeared wealthy disembarked, followed by four others. He glanced at Luca and asked, "Are you a dockworker?"

The question caught Luca off guard, but seeing it as a chance to inspect the ship, he replied, "Yes, sir."

"Unload the cargo into the storage. Someone aboard will show you where," the man said before calling over two other dockworkers and giving them the same instructions.

Luca climbed aboard using a ladder, followed by the other two. A young crewman directed them to the storage area, and they began unloading.

From what Luca could tell, the ship had two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, a large cargo hold, and a small upper deck that likely housed the owner's quarters.

"This will do," he thought. After finishing, the man paid each worker 600 Berries and opened one of the crates, offering them some of the spices he had imported. They thanked him and went their separate ways.

---

After midnight, Luca returned to the harbor. It was still somewhat lively, but luckily, the ship had been moored in a secluded spot.

The only obstacle was the guard. He approached the guard's small cabin, picked up a pebble, and threw it at the door to get his attention.

As expected, an overweight guard stormed out angrily. "Who the hell knocked?!" He looked around but saw no one, which only infuriated him further.

After a brief search, the guard turned back toward his cabin—unaware of the air serpent coiling behind him. It wrapped around his neck and choked him. "Wha—... wha—..." The guard gasped as the serpent tightened its grip until he passed out.

The air carried his unconscious body back inside the cabin and shut the door. With the guard dealt with, Luca boarded the ship. He located the anchor, raised it, and took control of the vessel.

Using his powers, he lifted the ship into the air and flew it to a hidden spot in the forest. There, he used his abilities to reposition trees, concealing it completely.

Now, he had all the time he needed to inspect the ship thoroughly.

The cargo hold was empty, just an open space for transporting goods. The two bedrooms were moderately sized but reeked of sweat and wine. Luca disposed of the beds and clothes to eliminate the odor. The bathroom was unremarkablr.

In the kitchen, he discarded perishable items before heading to the upper deck. At the top, there was only one door.

He opened it to reveal a luxurious cabin that starkly contrasted with the rest of the ship.

A red carpet covered the floor, and in the center stood a wide bed draped with curtains. The intricately carved wooden frame suggested it was expensive, paired with pristine white bedding.

A wardrobe built into the wall stood open, displaying lavish clothing and shoes. A massive window dominated one side. "The ocean view from here must be incredible. This man certainly knew how to indulge himself," Luca thought as he tested the bed—extremely comfortable.

Beside the bed, he noticed a small drawer. After some searching, he found money, documents, and wanted posters inside. Once he had inspected every corner and discarded anything unnecessary, he ensured the ship was well-hidden before returning home.